Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Escape to The Relais Henley’s new Riverside Retreat: The Henley Hideaway Oasis

Just in time for the Henley's iconic summer events season, The Relais Henley is proud to share their best-kept secret: the launch of The Henley Hideaway Oasis - a chic new riverside retreat blending laid-back luxury with seasonal, mezze-style dining, local wines and expertly curated cocktails. Positioned on the banks of the River Thames in a prime location for soaking up the town's summer buzz, The Henley Hideaway offers locals and visitors alike an exclusive setting in which to socialise - a stunning hidden venue tucked right in the heart of Henley, designed for relaxed convivial gathering and al fresco celebrations.

Nearly half of newlyweds will experience post-wedding blues this year

As we quickly approach the start of wedding season, many brides and grooms will be amping up for the best day of their lives. While the happiness of wedding days is well explored, the lull that comes afterwards is barely spoken about and not a feeling newlyweds are warned of, leading to potential feelings of isolation. Exclusive data from engagement and wedding ring experts at Queensmith has revealed that 40% of recently married couples experience some form of post-wedding blues. An experience of sadness, letdown, or emptiness that is often the first thing to hit couples after their honeymoon - a hangover from the heady highs of wedding planning.

Unique wedding trends 2025: Film photography surges 50%

Three in five couples plan to incorporate unique elements into their wedding, and with the world of choice at the end of our fingertips, inspiration is flying in from all angles. But which of the net's most loved delights have seen the most significant interest surges since last summer? To find out, the team at Aura Print scoured social media platforms to discover what's been hot, and gathered Pinterest and Google Trends data to reveal their most adored trends that have shot up since last summer.

Old Windsor’s The Loch & the Tyne Wins Prestigious Cateys’ Pub and Bar Award

Adam Handling MBE's The Loch & the Tyne in Old Windsor, Berkshire has been crowned winner of this year's Pub & Bar Award at the prestigious The Caterer magazine's 'The Cateys' awards with judges praising the pub and restaurant with rooms as "world class" and citing its commitment to sustainability as a major factor in receiving the award. "I'm super proud that we've won this - it's recognition for the incredible team we have here, led by our chef proprietor, Steven Kerr," said Adam Handling, who heads the Adam Handling Collection of restaurants, pubs, bars and a chocolate shop, which includes The Loch & the Tyne.

Happily ever after - making plans for the future

As nearlyweds, you may not be thinking about what happens beyond the end of your natural lives together - that's not the exciting bit - Katharine Bundell, a barrister at 4PB shares advice in this article that could make your loved ones' lives a lot easier if anything happens to you. Death and taxes remain fairly inevitable. On 16th May 2025 the Law Commission published its recommendations on wills and proposed a new statute. This is the first significant reconsideration since the Wills Act 1837 which is still effective today. Life was quite different in 1837. Queen Victoria ascended the throne aged 18 years old. Any property owned by a women on marriage was transferred automatically to her husband. It would be 40 years before Thomas Edison lit up the first electric lightbulb.

De Vere Wokefield Estate launches ‘Bark-quet Menu’ for dogs

De Vere Wokefield Estate, located near Reading and part of De Vere's collection of historic mansion house estates and contemporary hotels, has launched the Bark-quet Menu for couples who want to include their dogs in their big day. As more couples opt for pet-inclusive weddings, De Vere Wokefield Estate is embracing the trend by offering four-legged friends a seat at the table. The Bark-quet Menu features a curated selection of dog-safe delicacies including a Doggy Daiquiri (a cool blend of watermelon and banana), a Paw-tini (a refreshing blend of chicken broth and fresh herbs), Barkcuterie Boards (carrot sticks, apple slices, and dog biscuits), Canine Comfort (a hearty mix of rice, green beans and grilled chicken), and a scoop of Jude's dog-friendly vanilla ice cream.

Why the bar at your wedding shouldn’t be an afterthought

In the grand orchestration of a wedding, couples often obsess over floral arrangements, lighting design and detailed seating charts. The dress, the photographer, the five-course dinner - each element is painstakingly curated. And yet, one of the most powerful forces behind a wedding's success is consistently left until the eleventh hour: the bar! Let's be honest, it's not often you hear a couple say: "First things first, let's lock in a great bar team." But maybe they should. "You can spend months working on the seating plan or deciding the perfect shade of napkin, but if the bar's giving bored function-room energy, it can all quickly lose its magic," says Luke Shelton-Sharp, co-founder of room two, the London-based cocktail studio and event planner.

The Number Wedding Etiquette Mistakes Guests Make, According To Expert

Picture this: you're scrolling through a friend's wedding photos and spot someone in flip-flops at a black-tie garden party, or worse, a guest in head-to-toe white stealing focus from the bride. Sound familiar? These fashion faux pas happen more often than you'd think at summer weddings. Thanks to outdoor ceremonies and relaxed vibes, many guests assume summer weddings mean anything goes. But according to wedding specialist Nick Bramer from Country House Weddings, a family-run business specialising in exclusive-use wedding venues across the UK, this casual approach often backfires spectacularly.

BEAR by Carlo Scotto set to open in Beaconsfield this summer

On Wednesday 30th July, award-winning chef Carlo Scotto opens BEAR, a personal 14-seat chef's table concept located in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. BEAR will offer guests an exclusive front-row seat to Carlo's most intimate and expressive culinary experience to date. Best known for his fearless creativity and boundary-pushing flavours, Carlo has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in modern British cuisine having worked in the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay, Angela Hartnett and the Galvin Brothers before opening his first solo project Amethyst in 2022. With a reputation for culinary detail learnt at London's finest kitchens, his ambition burns brighter than ever with the launch of his latest venture where he peels back the layers of traditional fine dining to reveal something raw, refined, and personal.

Hen Party Treats- Big Day Cakes

To begin planning your hen party you need to set a budget first so you can make sure you'll still have enough money to spend on your actual wedding. Once that's decided you need to choose a theme and factor in the cost of the decorations and other things you may buy. You'll also have to create a guest list consisting of only your closest friends before moving onto picking the date, location and some activities to do. In need of some inspiration for what to do at your hen party? There is a variety of options to choose that will fit your fancy venturing from whether you want to do something adventurous like rock climbing or canyoning or perhaps you'd prefer to spend the day calming down and doing something relaxing such as having a spa day or afternoon tea.

How Much Should You Really Gift At Weddings In 2025?

Many people are unsure of how much money to give when they attend a wedding, statistics showed Google searches for 'how much money should you give for a wedding gift' soared by a whopping 5,000% in April of 2025 alone and 11% of guests go into debt just to attend a wedding, with the average spend hitting £451. Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes, has broken down exactly what you should spend based on your relationship to the couple, plus clever tricks to make your gift feel luxe on a budget.

Cliveden Literary Festival set to take place on 11th and 12th October 2025

Cliveden Literary Festival will take place from Saturday 11th to Sunday 12th October at Cliveden House in Berkshire. Now in its eighth year, the sell-out festival is renowned as a forum for lively discussion, thought-provoking ideas, and political debate. Last year, Elif Shafak described the festival as a cultural space we leave "feeling much more nurtured, nourished and inspired" while Rachel Eliza Griffiths said "the setting of Cliveden... is a kind of mirror of the beauty that I find in books." The 2024 programme featured Salman Rushdie, Rachel Weisz, William Boyd, Ian McEwan, Tom Holland, Emily Maitlis, John Banville, Neil Jordan, Robert Harris, Patrick Radden Keefe, Niall Ferguson, Elif Shafak, Helen Castor, Dan Jones, William Dalrymple, Alex Younger, Michael Gove, Merve Emre and more.

How to Beat the Heat: Tips for a Comfortable Summer Wedding

A summer wedding sounds like a dream, and it often is. Long days and gorgeous sunshine can make your big day truly unforgettable. But there's one little guest that always turns up uninvited during summer: the heat. No one wants to be a sweaty mess in their wedding photos but luckily with a bit of planning, you can keep everyone cool and comfortable from start to finish. Leading wedding experts, The Foxy Hen explains how. If you're going for a full-day celebration, think about having the ceremony indoors or under cover, then move the party outside once the sun starts to ease off.

Enjoy a Gourmet Stay at The Langley

Savour the art of dining at The Langley hotel and spa located in Iver in Buckinghamshire, where indulgence meets elegance with a Gourmet Stay experience. This escape includes a beautifully appointed bedroom, a sumptuous English breakfast, and a choice of lunch or dinner at Cedar, the signature restaurant led by Chef Alfonso Allocca. From handmade pastas to refined classics, each dish honours Italian tradition with contemporary flair, served in a setting that blends warmth with sophistication. Whether visitors are celebrating a special occasion like a pre-wedding get together or a mini-moon in the region, this stunning setting offers something special.

Doctors Tips To Avoid Last Minute Wedding Stress

Dr Ravi Lukha, Medical Director at Bupa UK Insurance, advises on how to combat wedding stress! Peak wedding season is upon us, and the UK's Google search habits show huge leaps in people seeking quick turnaround weddings - and planners to help make those nuptials happen. According to Google Search Console analysis, UK volumes for searches around quick weddings have seen significant increases, recently. In the last six months, the following searches have seen steep climbs:

The most instagrammable venues this year include Lusty Glaze and Clivenden House

Summer wedding season is in full swing as the warm weather sets the scene for thousands of couples to say their vows. Around 40% of all weddings take place during the peak summer months of June, July, and August, with August reigning as the most popular month to tie the knot. With UK searches for 'wedding locations' soaring by 180% over the past months, wedding invite specialists Aura Print analysed Instagram hashtags to uncover the most photographed wedding venues on the social media platform, spotlighting the UK's most stunning backdrops for couples celebrating their big day. Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire was at number one while Cliveden house in Berkshire was at number five and Lusty Glaze in Cornwall made it to number eight.

The Bull, Charlbury in Oxfordshire named the UK's best pub

The Bull in Charlbury has been named the UK's best pub for 2025, after the Oxfordshire venue triumphed at this year's National Pub & Bar Awards. Owned and operated by the Public House Group, which also runs London venues The Hero and The Pelican, The Bull has cemented its reputation as a leading countryside pub since it reopened in July 2023 under the leadership of founders Phil Winser, James Gummer and Olivier van Themsche. Blending quintessential qualities with the finesse and flawless service of a contemporary operation, the National Pub & Bar of the Year has been praised for its stripped-back design, brilliant front-of-house team and exceptional food coming out of the kitchen.

Love is in the Air: Wedding Fragrances with Yankee Candle and WoodWick

When it comes to planning a wedding, it's the little details that make the biggest impact; from scent to style, every element helps tell the story of your day. No matter how you choose to incorporate fragrance into your wedding, a beautifully chosen candle can create a sensory signature that stays with you and your guests forever. We asked Taylor Perlis, Yankee Candle Fragrance Evaluator to share how best to use candles to create a beautiful, memorable atmosphere on your special day.

The Compleat Angler recognised as one of UK’s top hotels in Tripadvisor’s Travellers Choice Awards

The Compleat Angler in Marlow, part of the Macdonald Hotels & Resorts group, has been recognised in Tripadvisor's Traveller's Choice Awards 2025 following consistently high ratings from guests. Tripadvisor's Traveller's Choice Awards are based on genuine feedback from guests who have visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period. Reviews praised The Compleat Angler for its picturesque views, beautiful gardens, attentive service, fine food and warm, welcoming atmosphere. The four-star, 64-bedroom hotel has a rich history dating back to the 17th century. Established as a small guesthouse known as the Riverside Inn, The Compleat Angler gained its present-day title from Izaak Walton's famous angling book of the same name which was written about fishing in and around Marlow.

Enjoy summer at Monkey Island Estate in Bray, Berkshire

This summer, Monkey Island Estate in Bray, Berkshire, is delighted to offer guests new experiences to make the most of the quintessentially English countryside and enjoy an unforgettable visit to this private island on the River Thames. New for 2025, the five-star hotel, part of YTL Hotels, has launched self-drive river boating; its own premium gin made from ingredients grown on the island; screen-free Yoto audio players for families as well as a new biodiversity-boosting wildflower meadow and beehives. As well as these exciting new additions, guests can also look forward to the island's existing signature experiences, including rejuvenating treatments on the bespoke Floating Spa barge; the Shepherd's Hut Hideaway; and seasonal and locally sourced produce at The Monkey Brasserie.